"Yes, he'll live, but he has had a narrow escape," was the reply of the medical man in charge of the case. "The bit of shell scraped his left temple, as you see. Had it come a little closer, it would have gone through his brain." Walter had been placed on a swinging cot, and now his head was bound up. Before this operation was over he opened his eyes. "Whe--where am I?" he stammered. "Wh--what hit me?" "Praise God, he's himself again!" murmured Caleb, reverently. "I was afraid he was a goner." "So was I," whispered Si. "And I don't know how I could spare Walter--he seems so like a brother." "You must lie quiet for a while," said the surgeon. "You'll be all right by to-night." And then he gave Walter some medicine to brace his nerves, for they had been sadly shattered by the shock. The remainder of that Saturday was spent in bed. On this memorable day the fighting on land had been even more fierce than on the sea. The army of invasion had taken the various outposts of Santiago, and the very city itself now lay at General Shafter's mercy. It was felt that a day or two longer would bring matters to a climax. When Walter joined his comrades after supper he looked rather pale and scared. Almost silently he took Si's hand and wrung it. "You are all right?" he whispered. "No hurt to speak of," was the answer. "But we were pretty close to death. Oh, Si, I never realized before how quick one could be put out of this world!" "Neither did I, Walter. After this I'm going to--well--I'm going to attend church more regularly, that's all. I never did take much to sech matters afore, like you do." "It's always well to be prepared for death, Si--I'm going to try to be prepared after this," was Walter's low answer, and in the darkness of the berth deck they clasped hands again. They understood each other pretty well, these boys. On Sunday morning the sun arose clear and strong, and early in the day an awning was spread over the quarterdeck of the flagship _Brooklyn_, and preparations were made to pass a hot day as comfortably as possible. "We will rest to-day," was the word passed around, and the jackies were not sorry, for the bombardment on Saturday morning had tired them out. The _Brooklyn_ rested about three miles out from Santiago Bay, and not far off lay the _Texas_. Between the two ships the long, green waves rose and fell, only making a soft slish-slish as they struck the vessels' sides. The jackies lolled here, there, and everywhere, some talking, some reading old newspapers which from frequent handling would scarcely hold together, while a few studied the Bibles they had brought with them. Presently from the _Texas_ came the musical bugle-call for church service. "I'd like to go on board of her once," said Walter to Si, as they listened to the bell that followed. "She's certainly a fine-looking craft."